Wheel suspension arrangement for motor vehicles

Abstract

A wheel suspension arrangement is provided for supporting and guiding a rear wheel and wheel carrier of a motor vehicle. More specifically, a lower wheel guide linkage is provided which includes a rear guide rod arm formed as a leaf spring which extends transversely of the vehicle from the wheel carrier to a pivot bearing support at the vehicle body. A front guide rod arm assembly is also provided which includes a longitudinal strut member extending from the wheel carrier forwardly. The forward end of the longitudinal strut member is elastically supported on a bearing rotating shaft by way of an elastic bushing interposed between a sleeve of the longitudinal strut member and the rotating bearing shaft. The rotating bearing shaft is in turn connected to the vehicle body by way of a bearing, which also permits limited movement thereof about a vertical axis. In order to accommodate relative angular movement of the longitudinal strut member and the rotating bearing shaft, a vertically extending pivot pin interconnects these members. In order to lend different elastic yieldingness to the hinged connection between the longitudinal strut member and the bearing rotating shaft, portions of the elastic material of the elastic bushing are cutaway at the horizontal sides.

I claim: 
     
       1. A wheel suspension arrangement for motor vehicles of the type including a wheel guide linkage arranged swingably at the vehicle body for supporting a wheel carrier in the vehicle longitudinal direction; said suspension arrangement comprising: elastic means for enabling horizontal transverse movement of the wheel guide linkage, said elastic means including a rear guide rod formed of a flexibly bending elastic element and extending from a rear pivot bearing at the vehicle body to the wheel carrier,   and a front guide rod arm assembly, said front guide arm assembly being formed of first and second front guide rod members hingedly connected to one another, said front guide rod arm assembly extending from said wheel carrier to a position disposed forwardly of said rear pivot bearing, and said guide rod members being pivotal about at least an essentially vertical pivot axis.   
     
     
       2. Wheel suspension arrangement for motor vehicles including a wheel guide linkage arranged swingably at the vehicle body for flexibly supporting a wheel carrier in the vehicle longitudinal direction; said wheel guide linkage comprising: a rear guide rod arm formed of a bending elastic element and extending from a rear pivot bearing at the vehicle body to the wheel carrier,   and a front guide rod arm assembly, said front guide arm assembly being formed of first and second front guide rod members hingedly connected to one another, said front guide rod arm assembly extending from said wheel carrier to a position disposed forwardly of said rear pivot bearing and said guide rod members being pivotal about at least an essentially vertical pivot axis, wherein said first front guide rod member is a longitudinal strut member extending from said wheel carrier in the forward vehicle driving direction, wherein said second front guide rod member is a bearing rotating shaft which is flexibly connected with said longitudinal strut member, and wherein said bearing rotating shaft is arranged between the vehicle body and the longitudinal strut member for transmitting guiding and supporting forces therebetween.   
     
     
       3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said bearing rotating shaft is connected with the longitudinal strut member by means of a vertically extending pin, said vertical pivot axis extending through said pin. 
     
     
       4. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said bearing rotating shaft extends inclined transversely outwardly from the vehicle center line in a direction opposite the vehicle driving direction towards the longitudinal strut member, and wherein said bearing rotating shaft extends at an obtuse angle to the mean center line of the longitudinal strut member. 
     
     
       5. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said bearing rotating shaft is supported in a sleeve of the longitudinal strut member with the interposition of an elastic bushing having differing elasticities in different radial directions of said bearing rotating shaft. 
     
     
       6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said bearing rotating shaft is connected with the longitudinal strut member by means of a vertically extending pin, said vertical pivot axis extending through said pin. 
     
     
       7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said bearing rotating shaft extends inclined transversely outwardly from the vehicle center line in a direction opposite the vehicle driving direction towards the longitudinal strut member, and wherein said bearing rotating shaft extends at an obtuse angle to the mean center line of the longitudinal strut member. 
     
     
       8. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said elastic bushing is provided with recesses at the horizontal sides thereof so as to be more yielding in the horizontal direction of loading than in the vertical direction of loading, said loading being caused by relative movement of said longitudinal strut member and bearing rotating shaft due to forces acting on the vehicle wheel and wheel carrier during vehicle driving. 
     
     
       9. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the elastic bushing is constructed to be more yielding in the horizontal direction of loading than in the vertical direction of loading, said loading being caused by relative movement of said longitudinal strut member and bearing rotating shaft due to forces acting on the vehicle wheel and wheel carrier during vehicle driving. 
     
     
       10. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said elastic bushing is provided with recesses at the horizontal sides thereof so as to be more yielding in the horizontal direction of loading than in the vertical direction of loading, said loading being caused by relative movement of said longitudinal strut member and bearing rotating shaft due to forces acting on the vehicle wheel and wheel carrier during vehicle driving. 
     
     
       11. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said wheel guide linkage is a lower wheel guide linkage for a rear vehicle wheel of a vehicle having similar wheel and wheel suspension at respective opposite sides of the vehicle center line, wherein said rear guide arm is a leaf spring extending substantially transversely of the vehicle from the wheel carrier, and wherein the bearing rotating shaft is connected to the vehicle by means of a front pivot bearing which permits limited pivotal movement of said bearing rotating shaft about a second substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
       12. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said wheel guide linkage is a lower wheel guide linkage for a rear vehicle wheel of a vehicle having similar wheel and wheel suspension at respective opposite sides of the vehicle center line, wherein said rear guide arm is a leaf spring extending substantially transversely of the vehicle from the wheel carrier, and wherein the bearing rotating shaft is connected to the vehicle by means of a front pivot bearing which permits limited pivotal movement of said bearing rotating shaft about a second substantially vertical axis.